THE GARDA WATCHDOG has said that it received 2,706 public complaints about gardaí last year, with the vast majority of complainants unhappy with the outcome from police investigations. 

Fiosrú, which has become the renamed and new version of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), released its first annual report for nine months covering between 2 April and 31 December.

The body has greater powers than GSOC and also can investigate a wider range of offences. 

Figures released in the report show that 27% of the 2,706 public complaints concerned dissatisfaction with garda investigations, with complaints about roads policing accounting for 15%. A further 12% of complaints related to concerns during arrests.

Out of the total complaints just over half, or 1,440 public complaints, or 53%, were deemed admissible.

1,098 public complaints were about gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, which the body said is to be expected because of the greater population.

Outside the capital, the garda divisions with the highest number of complaints were Kildare/Carlow with 141, Wexford/Wicklow next with 133 and Meath/Westmeath accounted for 117.

717 complaints, representing half of all admissible complaints, were referred back to An Garda Síochána by Fiosrú for resolution under new statutory powers. These complaints involved service-level or performance management issues. Fiosrú said this covers complaints where someone alleges a garda was discourteous to them or that they failed to properly investigate.

The main types of allegations about gardaí made in 723 complaints sent for Fiosrú investigation related to abuse of authority at 32%, followed by allegations of a criminal offence at 24%, and neglect of duty at 21%.

There were 30 independent investigations opened on foot of mandatory referrals from An Garda Síochána of serious incidents where the act or omission of a garda may have resulted in the death of or serious harm to a member of the public.

Of that number 13 of these related to fatalities. Fiosrú was keen to insist that such referrals do not necessarily mean gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing. There is an onus on gardaí to automatically report the incidents for accountability reasons. 

For instance gardaí referred themselves as part of the death of Yves Sakila, on Henry Street on 15 May, because gardaí had interacted with the man a short time before his death.

Prosecutions

61 investigation files were sent by Fiosrú to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) because the investigators believed a criminal offence may have been committed by a garda.

Of that number 15 criminal prosecutions of gardaí were directed by the DPP arising from the Fiosrú investigations.

The report will be launched by Police Ombudsman Emily Logan who was appointed by the President of Ireland to head the body.

The Annual Report presents an in-depth overview of Fiosrú’s work in assisting complainants to resolve complaints concerning gardaí and in carrying out its own independent investigations into allegations of criminal or disciplinary issues involving gardaí.

“As this report shows, Fiosrú has been carrying out its work at considerable pace and scale in its first year of operating with the enhanced powers, expanded remit and increased independence that stem from our founding statute, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

“Fiosrú exists to provide an independent, impartial and efficient complaints service for members of the public who have concerns about gardaí, whether that be conduct issues or potential criminality. Our independent police oversight role also includes investigating serious incidents involving gardaí that are brought to our attention by An Garda Síochána,” she said.

Police Ombudsman Emily Logan, was Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission before taking up the role with Fiosrú. Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

The Annual Report speaks about Fiosrú’s enhanced statutory powers and independence as a policing oversight agency.

The new measures include a new resolution channel for complaints, with powers for Fiosrú to decide whether a complaint should be referred to An Garda Síochána for resolution or warrants a criminal or non-criminal investigation by the Police Ombudsman.

Complaints were referred back to gardaí by GSOC in the previous iteration. 

Fiosrú can also now examine a widened range of allegations following Garda referrals of serious incidents.

These referrals now include sexual offences where a garda is the alleged perpetrator or where a garda failed to investigate an alleged sexual offence. They also include the abuse of power for a sexual purpose by a garda.

There is also a new power to make systemic recommendations on foot of investigations where the Police Ombudsman has concerns about the practices, polices or procedures of An Garda Síochána.

It has also established a rapid response unit to gather evidence and given training to staff to deal with domestic violence as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

A new Digital Investigations Unit has been created with experts in evidence recovery and analysis of digital data from devices including CCTV, mobile phones and body-worn cameras.

Logan said that these measures are part of a drive by Fiosrú to improve its services.